It’s been a little busy here at the ol’ HQ and I just now realized that the site didn’t spread the news - - I’ve co-written another Ghostbusters book with good friend Craig Goldberg! For years, Craig has wanted to document the successful run of Kenner’s Real Ghostbusters toys and when he came to me with the idea, of course I had to say yes!
The Real Ghostbusters: A Visual History from Dark Horse Books is 240 packed to the gils pages detailing the inception of the animated show, why it was a necessity, how all of the key players became a part of it, and yes - why on Earth did it end so abruptly? And that’s just the first half of the book. The second half is dedicated to the amazing toys that Kenner released over the years, while hearing from all of the folks at Kenner who made the line what it was. Craig and I are (clearly) huge fans of both the show and the toys, and I have to tell you all that there are things in here that I didn’t know, and I’m sure a thing or two that nobody has known until now. It helped that we conducted over 30 new interviews for the book, including talking to several people who usually politely decline interviews. A few familiar collectors and historians of the series were kind enough to share their time and materials. And with the whole thing overseen by the watchful eye of Joe Medjuck and everyone at Ghost Corps, rest assured no stone was left unturned.
The release is just around the corner, and there’s a deluxe version that includes two animated cel acetate and background reproductions an exclusive slipcase and design, and a firepole bookmark. If that’s not your speed, don’t worry the regular edition has the same contents within from cover-to-cover.
Here’s the full release from the good people at Dark Horse, make sure you pre-order to have it in your hands on day one — no spoilers!
“THE REAL GHOSTBUSTERS: A VISUAL HISTORY” WILL BE AVAILABLE SUMMER 2025 IN HARDCOVER AND DELUXE FORMATS
A new art book chronicling the development of and phenomenon around the 1986 Saturday morning cartoon “The Real Ghostbusters.”
Dark Horse Books presents The Real Ghostbusters: A Visual History, a new full-color art book chronicling the history of the animated series The Real Ghostbusters. Written by Troy Benjamin (Marvel Cinematic Universe Guidebook: The Avengers Initiative, Ghostbusters: Ectomobile: Owner’s Workshop Manual) and Craig Goldberg (Yes Have Some Podcast), The Real Ghostbusters: A Visual History will be available in both a hardcover edition and a deluxe edition in Summer 2025.
A global phenomenon, Ghostbusters made the trans-dimensional sidestep to animation with 1986’s The Real Ghostbusters. The Saturday morning cartoon was an incredible success and was acclaimed for its storytelling, fantastical animation, and a voice cast that became as synonymous with the characters as the live-action actors who originated them. A simultaneous toy launch from Kenner ectoplasmatically energized the property with some of the most memorable, most beloved, weirdest, and best-selling toys in popular culture.
Fans can now get a behind-the-scenes look at their favorite animated series in The Real Ghostbusters: A Visual History. This franchise overview combines rare and never-before-seen visuals, including conceptual artwork, storyboards, script excerpts, internal memos, packaging art, unseen prototypes, abandoned concepts, and brand-new stunning photography with new and exclusive interviews in the hardcover edition.
“The Real Ghostbusters is so widely-known and still beloved by people of all ages,” said Goldberg. Benjamin added, “As knowledgeable fans ourselves, Craig and I discovered through the interviews how little has been revealed about the whole story behind the series and toys. There’s so much in this book for new and old fans alike, told through the eyes of those who were there.”
The art book will also be available in a deluxe edition, which includes an exclusive firehouse-inspired slipcase, a folio enclosing two acetate “animation cel” replicas, and a unique firehouse flagpole ribbon bookmark.
The Real Ghostbusters: A Visual History (9” x 12”, 240 pages, hardcover) will be available in bookstores on July 8, 2025 and in comic shops on July 9, 2025. It is now available to pre-order for $54.99 at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, TFAW, and your your local comic shop and indie bookstores.
The Real Ghostbusters: A Visual History Deluxe Edition (9” x 12”, 240 pages, hardcover) will also be available in bookstores on June 17, 2025 and in comic shops on June 18, 2025. It is now available to pre-order for $109.99 at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, TFAW, and your your local comic shop and indie bookstores.
